USHL hockey: Black Hawks end year with victory

Huff

Jan 1, 2018

WATERLOO — Sam Huff’s first United States Hockey League goal proved to be a game-winner Sunday night as Waterloo slipped past Des Moines, 5-2, at Young Arena.

Waterloo was on a power-play in a 2-2 game when Huff gathered in the puck at the left faceoff dot and slipped it past Buccaneers goalie Jake Kucharski 6 minutes, 1 seconds into the third period. Jack Drury and Ben Copeland added empty-net scores in the final minute to set the final margin. After a scoreless first period, Des Moines (9-14-0-1) took a 1-0 lead 8:08 into the second on Reed Lebster’s shorthanded breakaway goal. Jackson Cates tied the game for the Black Hawks just over a minute later on a power play. The Bucs went back up at the 13:57 mark, but Hunter Lellig answered for Waterloo to send the game to the third period tied at 2-2. The win was the fourth straight for the Black Hawks (15-9-1-1), who travel to Omaha Friday.

CATES, TOMEK HONORED: Cates and goaltender Matej Tomek were named USHL players of the week Monday.

Tomek was in the nets for 3-0 and 4-3 wins Thursday and Friday. He had 31 saves Thursday and 29 Friday. Cates, who leads Waterloo in scoring, added to his point total in all three games with two goals and three assists.

BILLINS AN OLYMPIAN: Former Black Hawks defenseman Chad Billins was named to the Team USA roster for the Winter Olympics that will take place in South Korea next month.

Billins played in 60 games for Waterloo in 2007-08 and finished with 36 points. He also had five goals in 11 playoff games that season. After playing college hockey at Ferris State and helping that program to the national championship game in 2012, he began a professional career in the NHL and overseas.